LOCAL NEWS

West Jordan man charged with shooting, killing man in 2019 at 15

Jan 31, 2025, 10:23 PM | Updated: 10:37 pm

WEST VALLEY CITY — A West Jordan man who was 15 when a 19-year-old man was shot and killed several years ago was charged with murder Friday as an adult.

Jose Antonio Flores-Carrillo, 21, is charged in 3rd District Court with murder, a first-degree felony; and two counts of shooting a gun and causing injury, a second-degree felony, in the 2019 shooting death of 19-year-old Neko Jardine.

Jose Antonio Flores-Carrillo (Utah Department of Corrections)

Jardine was shot three times on July 14, 2019, while attending a party with about 30 to 40 people at 5624 W. 4360 South. Two others were also shot and injured.

Witnesses at the party told police that before the shooting, a car pulled up to the house and the occupants asked the guests if they “banged,” according to charging documents. The witnesses said they were not part of a gang, but a fight still ensued.

One witness told police, “They all started ‘going at it.’ As the fighting continued, (he) heard gunshots, and they all started to run back in the house. (He) looked down and discovered he had been shot. (He) had no information to explain the reason for the incident and explained it was ‘unexpected’ and came ‘out of nowhere.’ (The witness) sustained three gunshot wounds to his legs,” the charges state.

Others who were with Flores-Carrillo that night were later questioned by police and claimed there was a confrontation with a group at the house earlier in the evening and they wanted to go back and fight them. One man said they brought two guns that night and Flores-Carrillo fired one of them during the fight, according to the charges.

Prosecutors say Flores-Carrillo’s juvenile criminal history includes aggravated assault, aggravated kidnapping and aggravated robbery.

“As an adult, he was charged with aggravated robbery, which was ultimately dismissed due to lack of witness cooperation. He is currently on felony probation … for fleeing, DUI and reckless driving,” prosecutors noted in the charging documents.

“Despite being placed in secure care for several violent felonies as a juvenile, he quickly reengaged in criminal behavior upon his release. There is substantial evidence supporting this case. Several witnesses identified (Flores-Carrillo) with a firearm that evening and recalled him taking credit for the shooting after they left the scene. The statements were further corroborated by surveillance footage.”

In 2019, West Valley police announced the arrests of three men in connection with the shooting, but formal criminal charges were never filed, according to court records.

“This kid has not been an angel. Look at his track record. He is awful. He is horrible and he has been allowed to for 5.5 years create chaos and hate and misery,” said Sherry Jardine, Neko Jardine’s grandmother, who says she feels cautiously optimistic about the arrest of Flores Carilllo.

Jardine said Flores Carillo’s arrest is a first step towards justice for Neko Jardine. She wants the other suspects involved in the shooting to be held accountable including a second man identified as “A.H.” in court documents who allegedly fired a second gun and claimed he fired it into the air and towards the house.

“There’s a lot of them and it’s a nest that needs to be taken out and our kids won’t be safe until they are,” Sherry Jardine said. “They’ve gotten away with it for so long and no consequences, it’s dangerous for everybody.”

Sherry Jardine said she wants Neko Jardine to be remembered for the life of love he lived and not the way he died.

“He went out and gave his life for his [friends],” Sherry Jardine said.

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West Jordan man charged with shooting, killing man in 2019 at 15